The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-03-31
ANOTHER SHOT ATTHE DECANTERs.
BY THEODORE L. cUYLER, D. d.

BY THEODORE L. CUYLER, D. d.
It is q curious coincidence that the one
man in Scripture whose name is associat-
ed with surfeit of water should be the
first man who is associated with surfeit of
wine! There, in the very vestibule of
human history, stands, or rather lies, the
poor old patriarch Noah, 80 pitiably
drunk that shamed flial affection tries
to cover him up till be gets sober. The
hero of righteousness, who had faced a
scofing world, sinks like helpless baby
under the power of Alcohol, who is no
respecter Of persons; ; and, unless ne are
very much mistaken, that sleeping, snor-
ing, senaeless old hero has been depicted
before the world IS perpetual object
lesson to teach the virtue of total absti-
nence.
1. The first thing for every teacher to
bring before his or her class in regard to
this sorrowful fall of Noah, is that he fell
because he ran squarely against Law
written by the Creator on every human
body. God has inscribed several laws on
our bodily constitutions against the use
of intoxicating beverages; they are as
true and immovable as the law of gravi.
tation. One of these laws is that alcohol
is not food it positively intsrferes with
wholesome alimentation. Yet millions
of foolish folk have swallowed it to help
digestion, until it has burned out their
stomachs. Alcoholic drinks waste the
cital forces. No sensible athlete, when
training for display of mucles, ever
touches them. was told by the most
famous American pedestrian that moth
ing would be so fatal to his success, when
engaged in great feat of walking. as the
slightest dose of whisky, or even Divine.
Science and experience point to the fact
that every healthy human frame instinc-
lively recognizes alcohol as its enemy,
and tries to expell it. Science and
experience testify that alcohol, instead of
nourishing the body, impoverishes it;
instead of warming it, it increases its
liability to freeze (as Arctic explorers
testify; instead of prolonging life, it
breeds legion Of diseases; and, with a
seductive smile on its face, it wields the
stiletto of an assassin.
2. When Noah began to drink his wine,
he did not stop until he was drunk, be.
cause there is tendency in alcoholic
beverages to produce excess. This is a
principle or Law which every teacher
should carefully explain to scholars.
Every intoxicant has in it this quality,
that it never satisfies, but awakeus a
constant desire for more. One glass
creates thirst for another glass. This
is not the case with any wholesome food
or beverage. Bread and beef do not
breed excess; one glass of milk does not
kindle morbid thirst for two glasses
next time. A healthful beverage salts
ies healthful appetite; q hurtful bever-
age, like wine, ale, or brandy, stimulates
appetite until it becomes an uncontrolla.
Bile frenzy. Here lies the reason why it
is 30 difficult to use intoxicants in mod.
GRAFTON, and also difficult to reform an
inebriate. Not more than one drunkard
in twenty is likely to be reformed. Out
of all the hard drinkers who have ever
been received into my church, there has
not been single one who has not had
some backward slips: some, alas, have
reeled over into hopeless ruinl Teach.
ers, tell your boys that the time to stor
is before they begin.
8. Noah had very clear head when
be was sober, but wine made him a fool
Here comes in another law of the Creator
against alcoholic drinks: namely, theil
tendency is to strike directly to the brain
Some drugs have affinity for the spine
some for the heart; but glass Of whiskey
or strong wine aims for the brain al
surely as hound makes after deer
When it reaches the brain, it overthrow
the reason, and often turns man into {
maniac. Sometimes, as in Noah's case
it stupefes the brain, and then it turned
an eminent man of God into so pitiabl
an idiot that his own children covered
him up to hide him. Alcohol, in striking
the brain, strikes right where mind ant
body meet,-strikes where it hits tn
immortal part, and poisons cbaracter,-
strikes 30 effectually that it often send
body and soul into hell Hear liea tn
most tremendous argument for entir
abstinence and because intoxicatin
drinks are the means of sending million
to eternal perdition, is the very reaso
why pulpits, churches and Sunday school
should constantly keep this vital question
of temperance in the foreground. Partl
on account of climate, and part o.
account of nervous, impulsive tempera
ment, the American people are in NOR
danger from alcoholic drinks than an
other neople on the globe.